Dental instrument.



mm. HOFFMAN & w'. B. GARRETT.

DENTAL INSTRUMENT; APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 1913.

Patented Sept. 8,

' 'nnrrnn srarns FATE ai men HARRY M, HOFFMAN AND WALTER B. GARRETT, 0F CARU'THERSVILLE, MISSOURI.

DENTAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Batent.

Patented sepa s, 1914.,

Application filed July 9, 1913. Serial No. 778,196.

To all whom it mag concern United States, residing at Caruthersville, in

the county of Pemiscot and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in dental instruments.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a lancet for the incision of gums which may be conveniently manipulated to accurately out the gum, particularly of the molar or wisdom teeth, although the same is adapted for making incisions'in the gums adjacent the cuspids or centrals.

A further object of the invention is to provide an implement by means of which an incision may be made in the gum behind the teeth as well as on both sides of the same, whereby the gum may be removed by rotating the instrument, the device being particularly adapted for removing the gum from the masticating surface of partially erupted wisdom teeth.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the, following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view; Fig. 2 is a side elevation; Fig. 3 is a-plan view; and

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the cutting member.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawing by the same reference characters.

The cutting member 10 is mounted on a shank 11 which is threaded at 12, whereby the same may be inserted within the threaded barrel 13 of the handle 14. It will be noted that the handle may be of any suitable construction, and that the shank 11 may be secured thereto in any practical manner. The cutting member 10 consists of a substantially crescent-shaped blade 15 formed with a cutting edge 16 which extends to the end portions 17 and 18 of the blade. The blade is concaved longitudinally, both sides of the edge 16 being beveled to produce the cutting surface, the shank being secured to the central portion 19 on the concaved side of the blade. The blade is preferably formed with an extension 20 in which the terminals of theshank are secured, althou h tooth, so that the gum may be out along both sides of the tooth as well as posterior. to

the tooth. 'It will be'seen that by the peculiar configuration of the blade, it is given a wide range in cutting the gum on teeth of--diiferent configurations, and that the gum adjaz- The blade.

cent the masticating surface of the teeth is completely removed both at the back of the tooth and at the sides.

The many advantages of a construction of this character will be clearly apparent, as it will be noted that the gum may be eflectually removed by the instrument being brought into contact with the same, and that repeated cutting atthe' gum is,. therefore, avoided. Particular attention is called to the peculiar formation of the blade, Whereby its cutting action is made possible, and to the fact that the instrument may be conveniently manipulated without danger of cutting the gum of'the teeth adjacent that of the tooth which is being operated upon. It will also be obvious that the structure may be easily and economically manufactured, and that the supporting shank for the blade may be supported on handles of diiferent configurations' ,What we claim is:

1.. A dental instrument including a shank and a blade which. is crescent-shaped in front elevation and is transversely curved whereby its terminals are directed rearwardly toward the shank.

Q 1,1eaea4 2. A dental instrument including a curved, whereby its terminals are directed shank and a blade, said blade being formed rearwardly toward the shank. with a relatively Wide central portion and In testimony whereof we afiix our signatapering from the central portion toward tures in. presence of two Witnesses.

- 5 each terminal, the terminals being pointed HARRY HOFFMAN. [Lo SJ and bent rearwardly. v 3. A dental instrument including ashank, W L GARRETT and a blade extending at an acute rearward Witnesses: angle thereto, said blade being crescent WALTON M. CoLLrNs, 10 shaped in front elevation'and transversely EDWIN S. HOFFMAN. 

